Munnings returns in Mr. Prospector
Mr. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith’s 4-year-old Munnings, ranked among the nation’s leading 3-year-old sprinters last year with victories in the Woody Stephens Stakes (G2) at Saratoga and Tom Fool Handicap (G2) at Belmont Park, is set to make his 2010 debut as the likely favorite in the $100,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.
The Mr. Prospector is among five stakes worth a total of $475,000 to be run on the first ever Gulfstream Sprint Showcase card. Regular jockey John R. Velazquez will be aboard Munnings for trainer Todd Pletcher as he makes his first start since finishing third in the Vosburgh Stakes (G1) over a ‘sloppy’ track at Belmont on Oct. 3.
A chestnut colt by Pletcher-trained Eclipse champion sprinter Speightstown, Munnings was tried once around two turns last season and finished a respectable third behind Rachel Alexandra and Summer Bird in the Haskell Invitational (G1) at Monmouth Park in early August after defeating older horses in the Tom Fool.
Munnings faces eight rival older horses in the six-furlong Mr. Prospector with Homewrecker Racing and Avalon Farm’s 4-year-old Custom for Carlos certain to attract his share of support with jockey Julien Leparoux in the saddle for trainer Eddie Kenneally. He is making his first appearance since a sharp 3 ¼ lengths victory in the Bet On Sunshine Handicap at Churchill Downs on Nov. 21.
A son of More Than Ready, Custom for Carlos made the first three starts of his career here early last year, including a respectable third-place finish in the Swale Stakes (G2) in late March with trouble early in the race as established stars Big Drama and This Ones for Phil battled to the wire in track record time.
Custom for Carlos later went on to win the Jersey Shore Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park by 6 ¼ lengths in early July and finish a game second by a nose in the Gallant Bob Handicap at Philadelphia Park on Oct. 10 prior to the Bet On Sunshine.
Completing the field for the Mr. Prospector are Darley Stable’s Past the Point, Timothy O’Toole’s Gentleman James, Kevin Bogart and partners’ Peace Chant, Winning Move Stable and partners’ Starforaday, Susan Moore’s Presto Change O and Rose Family Stable’s uncoupled entry of Prince Joshua and Make Me Zach.